Apparatus for grading and marking



July 11, 1939. K. ,E. CONN 2,165,613

APPARATUS FOR GRADING AND MARKING Filed Sept. 18, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I By i A ttorneys I July 11, 1939.

K. E. CONN 3 APPARATUS FOR GRADING AND MARKING Filed Sept. 18, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q 3 v "a h m R N w N N N Q k, 53 @571 '2: 55: Q

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By 2 1% ir A iiorneys July 11., 1939. K. E. CONN APPARATUS FOR GRADING AND MARKING Filed Sept. 18, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor fia nnezizilozm,

A itorneys July 11, 1939. K. E. CONN 2,l65,613

APPARATUS FOR GRADING AND MARKING By M 19m A iiorneys 15. correct answers.

Patented Jul 11,1939 2,165,613

UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR, GRADING AND MARKING Kenneth E. Conn, Blooming ton, Ind. 7 Application September 18, 1937, Serial No. 164,603

' ;5Claims'. (CI. 35-48) Myinyention relates to apparatus for grading plate 5, of any material functioning as a conand marking test; papers,; such as examination ductor of electricity, and havingsuitably secured papers for grading students, .or, competitorsfor thereto, along three side edges thereof, strips 1 various positions in industries or the like. of insulating material, preferably wood, forming p. The invention is directed primarily toward protogether with the plate 5 a frame like structure 5,,

' viding apparatus for quickly and accurately asopen at what maybe termed the front side-8 certaining the number of correct answers given thereof, or, of the holder l. -The plate 5 may be in a test withoutseparately checking each anprovided withean insulated backing, not. shown. swer, as is the usual practice, thereby-saving Preferably, although not necessarily, a plurality, ll) much time and labor, I three in this instance, of transversely flat bars 9, 1 v Another object'is -the provision of efiicient apalso of insulating-material, are inlaid in said paratus for; automatically adding and registering plate to extend from the front side8 of said the number of correct answers given in a test and pl sa b r being spaced p r nd f m th automatically marking on the test paper the instrips 1 to provide an, exposed surface of the plate t surrounding ,said-bars-for a purpose presently l5, Other and subordinate objects are also compreseen. Bars l0, similar to bars 9, extend from the bended by my invention as will appear when the front Si e O t e plate 5 to the strips Tat the 01 following description and the claims arereacl posite, or, rear side thereofalongside the side with reference to the drawings accompanying and bars At t er a s d 0 e o e e t y forming part of this specification. thereof, is a triangularlocater finger ll extend- 20 a In said drawings: ing inwardly from the rear bar lover'the plate 5, ,,Figure l is a view in ,top'plan of apaper holder and the purpose of which will presently be deand a combined registeringand marking instruscribed. At the frontside of the plate 5, also cenment forming a part of-a preferred embodiment trally thereof, is aconcave finger accommodation of myinvention, r aperture l2-presently referred to in detail. Op- 25 Figure 2' is aview partly in side elevationand posite the locater finger H is a semi-circular partly in section of the combined registeringand ledge 13 formed by anextension of the plateu5 marking instrument drawn to an enlarged scale, and for the attachment of wiring to the plate5. Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of a test sheet The describedframe structure may be varied as forming part of the invention, expediency may require for instance by eliminat- 3 Figure 4 is a, similar View of a, key sheet, ing the strips 9 and forming the plate 5 as a single Figure 5 is a view in top plan illustrating the piece structure. use of the holder and the test and key sheets, The combined registering d marking instru- Figure 6 is a view in top plan of a modifi d ment 2 comprisesa hollow handle I4 of insulatform of holder, 7 ing material, for instance hard rubber, provided 35 Figure 7 .is a view in longitudinal section taken at one endwith a cross bar l5 of conducting maon the line 'l--'l of Figure 6, terial, such as copper, and having suitably Figure Sis a fragmentary view of a color sheet m d thereon t extend'therefrem a plurality forming a part of a modified form of the invenof laterally spaced contact strips l6 0f flexible tion, conducting metal, the crossbar l5 and strips 16 40 Figure 9 is a similar view illustrating the use of forming a brush like unit for a use p ese y eX- the color sheet, and plained. Adjacent to the crossbar l5, andsuit- Figures 10 and 11 are views in top plan and ably secured to the handle is a register or side elevation, respectively, ofasheetperforating counter ll, of any suitable type, such as the well punch forming an adjunctive part of the apparaknown Veedor counter, and including denomina- 45 tus. I tional value indicating wheels l8 visible through Referring to the drawings by numerals, the a sight/opening IS in said registerand rotatabIe basic elements of my invention in the preferred step by step, in 'a manner Well understood in the embodiment thereof are asheet holder I, such as art, by means of a toot ed W e 0f the shown in Figure 1-, a combined registering and ratchet wheel type, faston anoperating shaft 2| 50 marking instrument 2, a test sheet 3, shown in extending from. on Side of said f Figure 3, and a key sheet 4, shown in Figure 4. The toothed wheel 20 is operative stepby step These basic elements. will now be described in the by the following means; Mounted alongside the order. named handle, with its axis in the plane of-thewheel 5.5- T e ho d l m esafl r aheul bas 29; and b a ai 1 30 t imm said handle 1 4 is a cylinder 23. Slidable axially in the cylinder 23 is a reciprocable wheel operating plunger 24 one end of which extends from one end of the cylinder 23 toward said wheel 2|]. Extending forwardly from said end of the plunger 24, and suitably secured thereto, is a wheel operating finger like dog 25 of resilient metal provided with a ratchet tooth 26 adapted in one direction of movement of the plunger 24, from normal position, to engage a tooth of the wheel 20 and impart a single step of rotation thereto, and in the other direction of movement of said plunger, to normal position, to wipe over the teeth of the wheel 20 idly. A coil spring 21 surrounding the plunger 24, in the cylinder 23, and interposed between one end of said cylinder and a pin 28 and the plunger, urges the latter toward normal position. The normal position of the plunger 24 is established by means of a fiat head 29 on the end thereof opposite the finger end, engaging with the outer side of the adjacent end of the cylinder 23.

The plunger 24 is moved from normal position, against the tension of the spring 21, by means of an electromagnet 30 mounted alongside the handle I4 in axial alignment with the plunger 24, with its core 3| opposed to the head 29. The mounting for the magnet 30 comprises a pair of hollow arms 32 extending laterally from the handle I and communicating with both the interior of said handle andthe outer casing 33 of the magnet 30. One side of the magnet 30 is wired by a lead 34 extending from the field, not shown, through one of the arms 32 to the cross bar I5. The other side of the magnet 30 is connected by a lead 35 extending from said field throughthe other arm 32, into the handle [4 and out of a nipple 36 on the rear end of said handle to one side of a source of energy represented at 31, for instance, the house current. The other side of the source of energy 31 is connected by a lead-38 to the beforementioned ledge l3 as by the binding post'39. The marking part of the instrument 2 comprises a pencil-like marker 4|] mounted in a cylindrical sleeve 4| for reciprocation handle l4 witha pointed marking end thereof disposed alongside the series of contact strips I6. The sleeve 4| is mounted on the magnet 30 and on the cylinder'23 by a pair of arms 42 extending from said magnet and cylinder respectively. The arrangement of the marker 40 is such that in one limit of movement thereof the point of the marker will engage and drag on a sheet of paper when the contact strips l6 are drawn across such sheet, and in the other limit of movement thereof said marker is raised from said sheet. In the normal position thereof the marker 40 is adapted to engage the sheet. The plunger 24 is operatively connected to the marker 40 to move the latter from normal position and thereby disengage the same from the sheet of paper each time the plunger is moved from normal position, or,in other words, each time the register 11 is operated, all for a purpose presently to be made clear. The operating connection between the plunger 24 and the marker 40 comprises an arm 43 extending laterally from the plunger 24, a short sleeve 44 on said arm and through which said marker is extended, and a set screw 45 threaded into the sleeve 44 for adjustably clamping the marker in said sleeve.

The-test sheet 3 is of the proper size to fit, at-least the right hand half thereof, between the side strips 1 with the right hand edge thereof in limited degree alongside the engaged with the rear strip 1. Preferably the sheet 3 is tilted at the top, as at 46 and provided with blank spaces 41, 48, 49 and 49a for the name of the pupil, or competitor, date of the test, and school section and score, respectively. Preferably the problems 50 are printed, or written, on the left hand side of the sheet 3 in column formation and numbered consecutively downwardly as at 5!. However, other arrangements of the problems 50 may be resorted to if desired. Following each problem 50 on the same side of the sheet 3 is a series of several selective answers 52, consecutively numbered, from left to right, one answer in each series being correct. At the right hand side of the sheet 3 opposite each problem 59- is a line of consecutively arranged numbers 53 corresponding to the numbers of the answers inthe problem and hereinafter designated answer selecting numbers. Each line of answer selecting numbers 53 is followed by the number of the problem, as at 54, disposed atthe right of said line.

The key sheet 4 is identical with the test sheet 3 so that the sheets being superposed, one on the other, with the edges thereof registering, the answer-selecting number 53 of each sheet will register line for line. Each sheet 3 and 4 is provided in its right hand edge with a V notch 55 for cooperation with the aforementioned locater finger II to facilitate superposing said sheets in exact registration for a purpose presently appearing. The sheets 3 and 4 may be provided with perforations as at 3' and 4' respectively, to take over pegs l' on the frame I to facilitate accurately aligning said sheets and positioning the same on said frame.

The key sheet 4 is perforated through the answer selecting number in each line, as at 56, corresponding to that of the correct answer. The test sheet 3 is handed to the pupil, or, other participant to be similarly perforated, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3, as at 51, accordingtd the pupils, or, other participant's selection of answers from those given on said sheet. A. suitable form of punch 58, such as shown in Figures'10, 11, is provided for this purpose.

Referring now to the use and operation of the described embodiment of-my apparatus, the key sheet 4 is fitted right-hand edge foremost into the holder l, flat against the plate 5 and with the notch 55 thereof fitted over the locater finger l I, the right hand margin of the sheet disposed flat against the rear bar 1. The test sheet 3 is next fitted into the holder ontop of the key sheet 4 in the same manner. In this-position of said sheets 3 and 4 the answer selecting numbers 53 on said sheets are in registration line for line. At this point it may be explained that the bars 9 are disposed to underlie the sheets 3 and 4 intermediate the lines of answer selecting numbers 53, also the problems 50, so as to provide insulated areas-over which the sheets 3 and 4 may be smoothed down without danger of the fingers receiving a shock from the plate 5. The bars I9 serve the same purpose at the top and bottom edges of said sheets. With these sheets 3 and 4 superposed as described, if the test sheet has been punched or' perforated to punch out answer selecting numbers 53 corresponding to those of the correct answers to the problem 50, the perforations, as at 51, in the test sheet 3 will register with those, 56, in the key sheet 4 thereby exposing the plate 5 through such registering perforations: If, on the other-hand, the test sheet 3 has been punched to punch out answer selecting numbers 53 corresponding to incorrect answers 52 of the problems 5!], such perforations will not register with any in the key sheet 4 and said key sheet will cover the plate 5 under such incorrectly selected perforations. The sheets 3 and 4 being arranged as described, the combined registering and marking instrument 2 is manipulated over the test sheet 3 to brush the contact strips l6 down the column of answer selecting numbers 53, one line at a time. During such manipulation of the instrument 2, the contact fingers 16 will wipe over the plate 5 wherever said plate is exposed through registering perforations 55 and 57 and close a circuit to the electromagnet 30 thereby energizing said magnet. As will be obvious, the circuit is closed from the source of energy 3'! through the lead 38, binding post 39, ledge l3, plate 5, contact strips [6, lead 34 and lead 35. Upon closing of the circuit the electro-magnet 35 will attract the plunger 24 thereby moving the same from normal position against the tension of the spring 2?, the plunger and finger 25 effecting a single step of movement of the toothed wheel 29 each time said contact strips 16 wipe over an exposed area of the plate 5. As will be understood, each time the toothed wheel 28 is rotated one step the value one is accumulated in the register I! so that the number of correct answers made by the student, or other participant, as indicated by perforations of correct answer selecting numbers 53, is registered in said register l'i. As has been previously explained when the plunger 24 is moved from normal position, or in other words when register I! is being operated, the marker 46 is raised from the sheet and therefore idle. Consequently whenever instrument 2 is manipulated down an answer column and passes over an answer correctly perforated it fails to contact, in the manner previously described, with the plate 5, said marker 60 being, as previously described, inengagement with the sheet leaves a mark opposite each incorrect answer in the column. This being the case a mark will be left, or made, alongside each answer selecting number 53 in the column which has been incorrectly selected by punching the same out of the sheet 3 and the incorrectness of the selection thereby indicated on the sheet. It will be understood that a succession of test sheets 3 are superposed on one key sheet 6 and graded and marked by the instrument 2 in the manner above described and the score recorded on each sheet 3 at 49a.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, a holder 59 is provided for receiving and aligning the edges of test and key sheets of the type previously described so as to adjust said sheets into exact registration. The holder 55 comprises a base plate of wood having the form of a rectangle. A pair of transversely extending slots 61 are provided in said plate 65 adjacent opposite ends thereof, respectively, opening at their bottoms into subjacent grooves 52 formed in the under side of said plate 59. One end of the base plate 50 is thicker than the remaining part of the plate to form a shoulder 83 at said end of said plate. A wooden bar 64 is mounted on said plate 50 for adjustment transversely thereof by means of headed screws 65 threaded upwardly through grooves 52, slots El and the ends of said bar, wing nuts 66 being threaded on the upper ends of said screws to clamp the bar 6 5 into adjusted position. At the shouldered end of the plate 60 said bar is provided with an extension 67' through which one of the screws 65 extends, said extension being provided to permit the bar 64 to fit flush against the shoulder 63. Intermediate the ends of the holder 59 is a transversely extending wooden bar 68 adjustable longitudinally of the holder. For this purpose the bar 64 is slotted longitudinally as at B9 and one edge of the base plate 60 has suitably secured thereto a metal bar In forming together with the said edge of the plate 60 a slot H opposite and parallel to the slot 69. Set screws 12, similar to screws 65, inserted through said slots 69 and H and through bar 68, withwing nuts 13 threaded onto their upper ends, provide for adjustment of the bar 68 longitudinally of the holder and clamping of the same in adjusted positions. An extension 74 on the appropriate end of the bar 58, and through which the screw 12 at that end of the bar extends, permits said end of the bar to fit flush against the adjacent side of the bar 64. A longitudinally extending slot 15 in the bar 68, through which one of the screws 12 extends, permits movement of the bar68 transversely of the holder with the bar 64. A plate l6 similar to plate 5 is suitably secured to the upper face of the plate 60 with its edges spaced from the edges of the latter. The

described spacing of the plate 16 provides an insulated area around the same by means of which the holder may be carried. A lug 11 on the plate 16 is extended into the thickened end of the plate 65 for the attachment of wiring thereto at a point protected by said thickened end for reasons which will be understood. A binding post 18 extends through the thickened end of said plate Ell to the lug 11 for the attachment of a wire, not shown, to said lug 11. By selected adjustment of the bars 64 and 68 difierent sizes of test and key sheets may be aligned at their edges and secured in relatively fixed position, one on the other, between said bars and the shoulder 63.

As will be understood the described modified form of holder is designed for use with test and key sheets such as those previously described and also for use in conjunction with the combined registering and marking instrument 2 described in the foregoing.

In the modified adaptation of theinvention illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, a color sheet 19 is utilized beneath the key sheet 80, the test sheet 8| being superposed on the key sheet just as described with reference to the preferred embodiment of the invention, it being understood that saidsheets 19, 80 and 8| may be inserted in either of the previously described form of holders I or 8|. With the color sheet 19 disposed under the key sheet 80 registering perforations in said key sheet and test sheet will expose to view a color spot as at 82. By counting the color spots in each column of answer selecting numbers 83 the number of correct answers made by the student may be ascertained as will be clear.

The foregoing description will, it is believed, suflice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification other than as described, and right is herein reserved to all such modifications falling within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a frame like holder comprising a base forming an electrical conductor, a plurality of sheets having rows of perforations therein and adapted to be superposed on said'base with the rows of perforations in said sheets in registration and exposing areas of said plate therethrough, and a combined registering and marking instrument separate from said base and adapted to be wiped manually over the top sheet along selected rows of perforations thereof and electrically operative by contact with said exposed areas to register the number thereof and to mark said top sheet intermediate registering perforations, said instrument delineating a line as a mark.

2. An electrically operative instrument for use in counting registering perforations in sheets of paper superposed on a base and exposing the latter through said perforations, said instrument comprising a handle, a comb-like unit of resilient contact fingers mounted on one end of the handle to be wiped across the top sheet and engaged with the base through said perforations under manipulation of said handle, a counter on said handle, operating means for said counter including a solenoid adapted to be intermittently energized by such engagement of said fingers, and a marker mounted on said handle for movement in opposite directions relative thereto into marking and idle positions, respectively, said marker being normally in one position and operative by said operating means into the other position coincidentally with operation of the counter.

3. An electrically operative instrument for use in counting registering perforations on sheets of paper superposed on a base and exposing the latter through said perforations, said instrument comprising a handle, a comb-like unit of resilient contact fingers mounted on one end of the handle to be wiped across the top sheet and engaged with the base through said perforations under manipulation of said handle, a counter on said handle, operating means for said counter including a solenoid adapted to be intermittently energized by such engagement of said fingers, and a marker mounted on said handle for movement in opposite directions relative thereto into marking and idle positions, respectively, said marker being normally in marking position and operative by said operating means into idle position coincidentally with operation of said counter.

4. In a holder for superposed perforated sheets and use with a counter electrically operative under control of feeler fingers thereon contacting said holder through said perforations, said sheets having a notch at one side edge and a pair of apertures at opposite sides thereof, a plate-like base of material forming an electrical conductor and of right angle form having upstanding edge keeper flanges of. insulation material extending around the ends and one side thereof, a locater finger extending inwardly of the side flange for engagement by the notches of said sheets to center the latter on the base, and a pair of pins arising from said base for insertion through said pair of apertures to hold said sheets in centered position.

5. In a holder for superposed perforated sheets and use with a counter electrically operative under control of feeler fingers thereon contacting said holder through said perforations, a rectangular base including a top plate of material forming an electrical conductor for supporting the sheets, and means for squaring the sheets on said plate to register the perforations thereof comprising a sheet squaring bar secured at its ends to said base to extend longitudinally thereof and for adjustment transversely of the same into selected set positions, and a second similar bar secured to said first mentioned bar and to the base for adjustment longitudinally of said base and first mentioned bar into selected set positions.

KENNETH E. CONN. 

